Exercise Tiger Disaster: 946 Die Rehearsing D-Day
Nine German Schnellboote (E-boats) attacked a convoy of American landing craft during Exercise Tiger, a D-Day rehearsal at Slapton Sands in Devon, on the night of April 27-28, 1944. The E-boats sank two LSTs and damaged a third, killing 749 American soldiers and sailors. Poor radio coordination meant rescue vessels arrived late, and many soldiers drowned because they had not been taught how to use their life belts properly, putting them on around their waists instead of under their arms, which flipped them face-down in the water. The disaster was kept secret for decades because ten officers aboard the lost ships had BIGOT-level clearance for D-Day plans. Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower had to confirm all ten bodies were recovered before the invasion could proceed.
April 28, 1944
82 years ago
Key Figures & Places
World War II
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Normandy Landings
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Exercise Tiger
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E-boats
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World War II
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E-boat
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Exercise Tiger
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Operation Neptune
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Résistance dans l'Europe occupée par les nazis
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Freiheitsaktion Bayern
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Rupprecht Gerngross
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Franz Ritter von Epp
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Paul Giesler
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Penzberg
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Endphaseverbrechen
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Penzberger Mordnacht
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